Kumaraguru Institutions, in collaboration with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), launched the Climate Smart Dairy Entrepreneurship Program to address critical challenges in Tamil Nadu’s dairy sector. The program aims to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and promote sustainable environmental practices by empowering dairy farmers and entrepreneurs.
With a vision to create a resilient dairy ecosystem aligned with global climate goals, the program integrates innovative technologies and climate-smart practices. It provides economic opportunities for rural youth and women, positioning Tamil Nadu as a model for climate-smart dairy practices and inspiring similar initiatives across India and beyond.
Dr.K.N. Selvakumar, Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), highlighted India’s leadership in global milk production, contributing 25% to global output, and the sector’s 7.8% annual growth. He emphasized the importance of value-added dairy products like ice cream and yogurt, with expected growth of 30-50% in the coming years.
Dr. Selvakumar urged the adoption of lab-to-land technologies to improve productivity and address climate challenges. He praised the collaboration between TANUVAS and the Environmental Defense Fund in promoting sustainable dairy practices and stressed the need for integrated approaches to ensure economic growth and environmental sustainability in India’s dairy and livestock sectors.
Dr. S. Ragupathy, Director, Strategic Planning & Review, Kumaraguru Institutions, emphasized the need for action on climate change issues, such as water management and energy use, urging collaboration and integration of traditional wisdom with modern technology for sustainable agriculture.
Mr. Saravanan Chandrasekaran, Assistant Vice President, Kumaraguru Institutions highlighted the transformative potential of the dairy initiative in improving farmers’ socio-economic status through sustainable practices.
Inspired by N Mahalingam, Founder of the Sakthi Group, he emphasized integrating farmers into a sustainable development framework, addressing gaps in animal nutrition and breeding, and utilizing climate-smart practices to optimize productivity and reduce environmental impact. He praised the collaboration of academic institutions, technology incubators, and industry partners, noting the selection of 100 rural entrepreneurs to lead sustainable ventures, positioning Tamil Nadu as a leader in climate-smart dairy farming.
Dr.Thanammal Ravichandran, Program Manager (Research), Kumaraguru Institutions highlighted the need to address productivity gaps in India’s dairy sector to maintain its global leadership. She emphasized inefficiencies in feed quality, animal health, and nutrient management and urged a collaborative approach among farmers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. Dr. Ravichandran encouraged farmers to adopt high-quality feed and scientific breeding while leveraging innovations like total mixed rations and bulk milk vending systems.
Dr. D. Kathiresan, Former Director at TANUVAS, introduced the Climate Smart Dairy Handbook, focusing on sustainable practices to improve productivity and support small-scale farmers. He emphasized the need for collaboration between policymakers, institutions, and the private sector and praised TANUVAS for its role in training farmers to overcome sector challenges.
In a significant development, EDF, KI, and TANUVAS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to foster joint efforts in promoting climate-smart practices in dairy and agriculture. This partnership aims to address challenges like water management, cattle feed optimization, and energy use, highlighting a shared commitment to creating a more resilient agricultural ecosystem.This initiative also marks a significant step toward building a climate-smart, sustainable dairy ecosystem that benefits farmers, rural communities, and the environment.
You can now read the most important #news on #eDairyNews #Whatsapp channels!!!
🇮🇳 eDairy News ÍNDIA: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaPidCcGpLHImBQk6x1F
